Card index file



R. J. WOOD CARD INDEX FILE May 10, 1932.

Filed Oct. l5, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l MEG G5 May 10,Y 1932.

R. J. VwooD CARD INDEX FILE Filed Oct. l5, 1928 4 SheetS-Sheet 2 May 10, 1932. R. J. woon 1,857,229

CARD INDEX FILE Filed Oct. 15, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 :234561: lof/l2 PHONE NARGE PAlu BALANCE A( lllllllllllliilillllllllllllllillllllllllllllIllL lll May 10, 1932. R. J. wooD 1,857,229

CARD INDEX FILE Filed oct. 15, 1928 4 sheets-Sheet 4 i Patented May 10, 1932 "i unirse STATES PATENT oFFici-i RODNEY JOHN VJOOD, 0F DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO REMINGTON RAND INC., BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE CARD INDEX FILE Application led October 15, 1928.` Serial No. 312,521.

My invention relates to card le systems, and more particularly to the arrangement and mounting means for a series of cards aiitording an automatic index.

In the present construction there is contemplated a file comprising a series ot' oscillatory carriers upon each of which are detachably supported for relative oscillatory movement a plurality of record cards or sheets arranged in eschelon whereby the top L margin of each card or sheet is visible beyond the margin of a succeeding sheet. Upon such visible portion appears a name or account number, the initials, lin al digits or lead characters of which being arranged at dit ferent predetermined distances from the family name or index number, whereby such initials, final digits, or lead characters pertaining to different cards form vertical parallel columns. The carriers for such groups of cards or sheets are marginally separated from each other suiiiciently to expose to view the margin of the topmost card or record sheet of succeeding groups, thereby entirely obviating the necessity for guide cards or tabs. The cards are detachably engaged in a slotted ladderlike support removably mounted on each carrier unit by means of oppo'sitely extending spaced' ears or tabs engageable with such support and extending beyond the termin al limit of the slot to which the card is engaged. Each card is provided intermediate such` engagement ears or tabs with a re-entrant notch or gore which permits the card to be contracted or warped sutiiciently to enable the attachment ears to be introduced through the slot of the support whereupon the inherent tension of the cards will maintain such interlocled engagement.

The object of the invention is to simplify the structure as well as the means and' mode of operation of card index record tiles ,whereby t-hey will not only be cheapened in con-l struction, but will be more efficient in operation, capable of being easily and quickly operated to l find a given record, of increased visibility and unlikely to get out of repair.

A further object of the invention isto provide a construction wherein the necessity for index tabs and guide cards is minimized.

A1further'object vof the invention is to provide a file index which will be compact enablingthe placementof aflarge number of record cards in a comparatively small space in such manner as to be readily and kquickly accessible.

A further object of the invention is to facilitate the insertion and removal of cards from the iile by eliminating mechanical locks, holders, simple form of engaging means upon the card itself.

A further object of the invention is to prov ide a tiling arrangement wherein the omission orcmisplacement of a kcard or` record sheet becomes immediately noticeable and serves as an automatic indicator4 or check of such error. s

A further object of the invention .is to provide an improved form of record card or sheet having integral interlocking means for engagement with a supporting member, the sheet being arranged to facilitate the engagement and disengagement thereofv with such support.

A further-object of the invention is to provide an improved form of carrier units for a plurality of record cards or sheets, and to further providefor the marginal separation of such carrier units whereby the record card of each of a succession of such carrier .units will be simultaneously visible.

A further object of theinvention is to provide an improved form of guidev indexing for the individual cards of a series.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view, as will more fully ap pear in the specification, the-invention consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation or their equivalents, as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.l

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein is shown the preferred but obviously notk necessarily the only form 'of embodiment of the invention, Fig. l is a perspective view of a plurality of carrier units each supporting a group of record cards and embodyor retainers and providing a hereof. Fig. 2 is a detail view illustrating the manner of engagement -and disengagement of a record card from the common slotted support which has been shown separated from the carrier unit. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of several carrier unitsand their attached record cards. Fig. 4 is a perspective view from the front of a carrier unit and a portion of the card support from which cards have been removed. Fig. 5 is an eleva-V tion of a record card removed from its sup-Y port. Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a numerical index system applied to the present file. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a slide or tray ltype file in which the present invention is incorporated. Figs. 8 to 11 illustrate a further modification. Fig. 8 is a perspective viewof a modification of the file wherein the cards are contained in a series of substantially upright trays. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the trays removed from the series. Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view of a tray such as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Fig. 11 is a detail view illustrating the interconnection of a. series of trays by hinged links into a book-like group.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters ofvreference throughout the several views. Y

It is the usual practice in the construction of card index files toemploy index tabs or guide cards bearing designations A, Aa, Ab, Ac, etc. The larger such files may grow, the greater the necessity for such index tabs, and the greater will be the number of suchrtabs or cards required. Because of their exposure to wear and soil, such guide tabs are frequently of Celluloid or provided with celluloid facings. In some instances transparent Celluloid protectors are provided for Athe record cards. Such use of index .tabs and guides not only increases materially the fire hazard, but such guides unnecessarily extend the size of the file occupying space otherwise usable for record sheets. Such use of index tabs and guide cards .also materially increases the cost ofmaintenance of a filing system. The presentsystem while eliminating the necessity for Suchindex tabs or guide cards, materially reduces. the space required for a given number of records and minimizes the lire hazard.` It also enables the insertion of new cards easily and quickly without the necessity of shifting` other cards which ordinarily involves a considerableY .time loss and overhead maintenance expenses. .In the present instance a card may beins-erted in anyslot in a card support, it beingimmaterial whetherthe card isat the top, middle, or bottom of the group, itbeinglocatedwith equal facility'in any position, whereas in the usual card index system cards must be arranged in an exact sequence. .i ,i

Referring tothe accompanying drawings l-Il are a series Vofindependent carrier units to be mounted for -to-andefro oscillatory J in such distended or warped relationbymeans of a space bar 5 interposed between the bottom margins thereof. Such space bar has been shown as an inverted channel-shaped bar, the side margins ofwhich are upturned at 6 to embrace the lower margins respectively of the flaps or tongues 3 and il. Formed from the material of the aps or tongues 4L and projected rearwardly out of the plane of such portion are inwardly projecting retaining iingers or ears 7 for engagement with a slotted card support to be hereinafter described. Adjacent to their top margins the carrier units l are provided with rearwardly projecting spacer portions 8, which for simplicity of manufacture have been shown in the ferm of substantially V-shaped channels or ribs. Itis obvious however that other forms of spacing projections may beemployed in lieu thereof. Such spacer means, of whatever form, serves to marginally separate the carrier units l to expose to view therebetween the margins of the topmost card of the group carried thereby, which serves as an index or guide. Through the separationV of the carrier units by the spacer means 8, the topmost card of each group throughout the file is rendered simultaneously visible. Thus it is only necessary to glance back along the top of the carrier units in order to select a desired record which may be indexed either by name or by number. Such visibility of the record cards is illustrated in Fig. l.

Detachably engaged with each of the carrier units is a card support 10 comprising a sheet of flexible material preferably tag board, but which might be metal, Celluloid, fiber, or like material. This card support 10 is provided with a series of spaced transverse slots 11 which converts the sheet into a ladderlike structure. The unslotted ends of this support 10 are inserted from the front rearwardly through the vertical slots 2 of the carrier unit and the terminal margins of the support l0 are interengaged beneath the retainer fingers orears i?. This presents the intermediate'slotted portions 1l of the support l() in position overlying the' middle flap 3 of the carrier unit. This card support l0 is readily detachable from the carrier unit l and the record cards 12 arev in turn easily disengageable from thesupport 10,.V v

Record'cards l2 maybeA of any size, shape or proportions, and may bear any desired imprinted record form. The cards 12 areeach formed at their bottom margins with a short tab or odset portion 13 of less width than the card, terminating at its opposite sides in integral fingers or ears v14 for interlocking engagement with the support l0. The locking ears 14 are spaced apart a distance equivalent to the length of the slot 11 of the support 10 so that such locking ears or fingers 14 over# hang the terminal limit of the slot 11 at each end thereof, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. Such overlapping relation of the locking ears or lingers 14 with the terminals of the slots 11 affords a secure interlock which cannot readily become accidentally disengaged.

To facilitate the insertion or removal of the record card 12 from the support 10,*the lower margin of each card is slit or notched as at 15 preferably, tho-ugh not necessarily, by removal of an acutely triangular gore. The width of this notch at the margin of the card is substantially equal to the extent of one ear or finger 14 and the notch affords sufficient clearance for the retraction of one or the other of the locking ears or fingers 14 out of overlapping engagement with the support 10 at the end of the slot 11. This retraction of the engaging finger or ear 14 is effected by warping the record card 12 as shown in Fig. 2. Such adjustment is effected by bringing the margins of the notch 15 into close relation which results in a transverse constraction of the tab 13 and permits one or the other of the engagement ears or fingers 14 to be inserted into or removed from the slot 11 while the opposite ear or finger 14 is engaged in overlapping relation with the support sheet 10 at the opposite end of such slot. This operation is clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. The record cards 12 being of equal size and extent and being individually engaged in diderent slots 11 of the supports 10, the cards are presented in overlapping relation whereby the top margin of each succeeding card is presented to view above the margin of the precedingcard. The interlocking connection of the card 12 with the support 10 affords a flexible or hinged joint enabling the oscillatory adjustment of the card forwardly and downwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 3, to expose to view the record data upon any underlying card or sheet. Duringsuch movement the marginal attachment portion 13 has a turning motion within the space in termediate the slotted support 10, and the rearwardly deflected intermediate flap 3 of the carrier unit. This rearwardly flexed portion 3 of the carrier forms a protective housing for the locking ears or fingers 14 and the supporting tabs 13, and prevents their interference with the support and cards carried by a unit in the rear. The support 10 being flexible, may yield or warp somewhat during such swinging motion, if necessary, to clear the rearwardly flexed flap 3 of the carrier by the margin of the tab 13. Such tab portion and interengaging lingers or ears 14 being enclosed and protected by the rearwardly distended flap 3, there is little or no danger of such locking portions being torn or distorted. To indicate how the omission of a record card from the group becomes at once visibly apparent, the fifth card from the bottom in Fig. 1 has been omitted. This causes a double spacing between cards and exposes lupon the succeeding card matter which would or dinarily be concealed from view in the normal position of the card, kand may even include a notation of card missing.` Upon the removal or omission of. a card, such loss is at once apparent upon opening the file to f unit may be continued to any desired length.

Such structure is illustrated in Fig. 7 In such installation the slottedjsupport sheet 10 may be of any desired length to accommo. date any number of cards. The cards are interlocked with the support sheet in the man1 ner before 'describedy and the assembly is laidllat within'the tray 16. The slotted support 10 carryingthe groups of record cards 12, may be arranged in various assemblies or contained in cabinets or mountings of various types, `of which there Vare numerous different arrangements now upon the market. Some of these holders or carriers are hinged upon vertical axis for'swinging motion, bookfashion, while others are horizontally disposed. Such methodsy Vof Amounting index cards or records now commonly used upon the market, form nopart of the present yinvention per se, and hence have not been herein illustrated. The scopeof the present invention, however, includes the applicationfof the present slotted support 10 of whatever length, and the interlockedY assembly ofythe record cards 12 therewith, into whatever type fr of mounting o-r cabinet such elements may be installed.

The record cards be alphabetically or i normally concealed beneath the adjacent card when the cards are in assembled relation. However, the initials entered in such spaces appear in vertical columns formed by the registering succession of spaces on succeeding cards. Like initials appear in the same columns and unlike initials in different 4columns located different distances from the family name designation proportionate to the alphabetical sequence of such initial letters. While there may be in the file a large number of cards bearinof the same family name, such as the name tmith, it is quite unlikely that any considerable number of these will possess the same first name initial and even more unlikely that there will be any duplication of the second name initial. In locating the desired name, it is not necessary to follow through a y large series of similar family names such Morgan, Martin, Moran,\l\/Iegan and the like, but, if one is in search of the name George I. Moses, he glances down the Gi column until he finds an intial G entered therein. Obviously there will bea much less number of first nameinitials G than there are family names in the family group.` If the Searcher finds a second initial I associated with the G, it will be quite likely to be the name sought, which can be ascertained by a glance at the family name column. In any event there will be very few duplications of'first and middle name initials in a given section of family names. This very greatly facilitates the location of a given record card and enables a particular card to be selected with great rapidity. Likewise if a card is misplaced in the file, and a search is made for such lost card, it can` be much more quickly located by a search of the initial column corresponding to the first or given name initial, than by asearchV of the family name column. This system of alphabetical indexing by first and middle name initials, forms no part per se of the present invention, but is the subject matter of a copending application Ser. No. 67 2,322 filed Nov. 2, 1923.

In Fig. 6 there is shown a modification of such index system in which the cards are numerically identified. At the left of the cards is a column 17 for the primary index numeral, while adjacent thereto are ten spaces, which, registering with those of kadjacent cards, form ten columns upon the card group to receive the terminal digits one to nine and the naught in consecutively Vdisposed relation. Like terminal or lead digits are found in the same column and unlike digits are located in different columns spaced from the primaryindex numeral a distance proportionate to the value of such digits with the exception of the naught'which is in either the left or the right-hand column. In this case having found the primary numerical group, a particular card is located `by its final digit'by glancing down the final statement sheet or ledger sheet maybe inserted loosely behind a card 12 pertaining to a particular depositorrwhile upon such card 12 there may appear the customers identification signature together with a record of loans made to the customer, the times that the accounthas been overdrawn, and such other data of general nature as might affect the customers standing. By such arrangement the bookkeeper or bank accountant would have beforejhim constantly for comparison with incoming checks, the customers signature card and he could tell at a glance the general financial standing and reputation of the customer. Such record in this case would become more or less permanent whereas the daily ledger sheet or other accounting records which may be inserted loosely behind the customers card 12, will be removed and replaced from time to time without the necessity of transferring such information data. Likewise in a mercantile establishment or in a garage, the hinged record card may form a pocket behind which are loosely inserted time slips or charge slips, statement forms or ledger sheets, while the hinged card 12 may bear a summary of the customers account, the dates when billed, the number of timesY a customers car has received attention, and any other information or data of more or less permanent or general character 4 4 data or records, but also to form pockets intermediate such cards within which sales slips, dat-a sheets, records, notes may be deposited, the collection of such matter may grow to considerable thickness. To accomlnodate such accumulation, the spacer bars 5 Vcards 12 are not only utilized for entry of I.

and spacing beads or ribs 8 of the carrier are made of increased size, whereby the succeedying carrier units are separated greater distances. However, the preferable construe.- tion is one in which the rearward extension of the spacer bars 5 and offset beads or ribs 8 are substantially equal to each other.` rIhus whatever may be the capacity of the file group of cards 12 for accumulationof loose data sheets therebetween, the carrier units 1 are maintained in substantially parallel rey lation.

In Figs. 8 to 11 there has been illustrated a further modification wherein thecarrier comprises a pan-like unit 20 having marginal inturned walls or anges 2l. These carrier units 2O are to be arranged in parallel upright vrelation within a file box or drawer. Within the carrier unit 2O there is provided a'slotted support Y22 toV receive the tabbed margin of the card 12in the manner before described. In this installation however, the card 12 extends laterally or in a recumbent osition rather than upright as heretofore escribed. The support card 22 is extended at one side and folded upon itself to form an overlying flap 25 partially cover= ing the record cards and protecting them during the insertion of the carrier 2O intermediate adjacent carriers and during its removal therefrom. Such carrier unit 2() may be withdrawn from the series, as shown in Fig. 8, andfor convenience rested on the top of adjacent carriers 2() ywhile the record cards are upturned to afford access to underlying cards. Y

' In lieu of such loose assembly of the carriers whereby each is independently removable from the series, such series of carriers 20 maybe interconnected in book fashion Vby intermediate hinged links 24, as shown in Fig. 11. By such arrangement, the units may `be stacked one upon the other and may be opened at any desir-ed point like a book to give access to the group or series of record cards carried by a particular unit 20. Such linked interconnection of the unitswill prevent any misplacement of the units or Vthe intentional removal of such units from the series. Sufficient illustrations have been given to indicate the wide adaptability ofthe present file system and the interlocked` group relation of removable and interchangeable record cards.

It is furthermore quite practicable to employ the slottedsupport member with the series of interlaced or interlocked record cards without a carrier/such as the carrier 1 or carrier 20. Such interlaced groups of cards with theiryconnec'ting support may be arranged in upright position quite `similar to that shown in Fig. 1 but omitting the metallic carriers 1. In large installations vthis will result in considerablesaving of space The fact that the groups of cards are of great- While in the copending application before referred to, the index system involving an alphabetical succession of given name initial columns is disclosed upon a single sheet, the present index means differs therefrom by providing spaces for a ,basic index'designation and individual guide or lead designations upon the margins of different sheets or -cards to be simultaneously exposed tovview.

In the presenty system these spaces register to formcolumns one of which is appropriate for the entry of the basic indexdesignations whether they be the family names or an index number minus its final digit. The spaces for the individual guide-or lead indices Iregistering with each other forma series of columns appropriate to the entry of the guide or lead indices at different distancesfrom the column appropriatek to the basic indices proportionate to the relative position ofthe guide or lead character in the series. That is to say,

such guide or lead characters may be given.

name initials disposed in their relativealphabetical position or may be numbers disposed in their numerical sequence. In any event the like characters pertaining to different cards are simultaneously visible in the same column and unlike characters are simultaneously visible in different columns, which colums are formed by the registering spaces upon the exposed margins of different cards.

From .the above description it' will heap.- parent that there is thus provided adevice of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is sus'- y ceptible .of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from theprinciple involved or sacrificing any of its advantages. v

While 'in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is .to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the specific details shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise the preferred form of sev- Veral modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within thelegitimate and valid scope of the ap'- -pended claims. l

claim: p y

1. A record sheet carrier havingalowermargin, sllts 41n sa1d carrier extending upwardly vns I-Iaving'thus described my invention, I

fromfsaidilower margin, adjacent tongues formed by said `slits being flexed outV of a common plane anda spacer bar interposed between the flexed tongues wherebythe bottom of the carrier is spread in a fore-and-aft direction. i

Y 2. A record sheet carrier having parallel spaced slots therein, anda support member for each carrier of sheet-material having therein a succession of parallel spaced slots for engagement of record sheets, theV ends of the support being enegageable through the slots of the carrier with the slotted portion of the support overlying the face of the carrier.

: 3. A record sheet carrier having a medially ydepressed portion, a support member having therein a succession of spaced parallel slots bridgingn the depressed portion of the carrier, in which slots the sheets are engagea-ble.

4.V A le device comprising a record sheet carrier having a depressed portion forming a rearwardly extending housing, and having flat supporting faces at-opposite sides of the depressionv against which the record sheets rest, sheet-supporting means bridging such depression, anda series Vof record sheets engageable therewith having engaging portions projecting beyond the support into said depression.

5.V A record sheet carrier having a transverse rearwardly pro] ecting crimplocated in spaced relation with its top margin, the lower medial portion of the carrier being rearwardly depressed to form a housing for interlocking portions of record cards to be carried thereby and having flat; supporting surfaces at opposite sides of the depressed area forming bearing faces against which the record cards rest and means on said carrier for interlocking therewithza detachable support for said cards.

Y 6. A carrier member for a card file apparatus comprising a member having a depressed medial portion, a slotted card support bridging the depressed portion of the carrier, means upon said carrier for detachably interlocking the slotted card support with said carrier, a series of cards and marginal tab portions upon the cards extending through the slots of said support into the depressed portion of the carrier.

7. A carrier member for a card lile apparatus comprising a member having a depressed medial portion, a slotted card support bridging the depressed portion of the carrier, ears upon said carrier overhanging the slotted card support to detachably hold thev support in engagement with the carrier, and a series of cards having interlocking engagement with the slotted support, the interlocking portions of which are housed in said depressed portion of the carrier. i 8. In a filesystem of the character described, a carrier for record cards,.a supporting member engageable with said carrier and having therein a succession Vof parallel spaced slots in which the cards are engageable, a plurality of cards engaged in said slots and extending in overlapping relation wherein the marginal portions of succeeding cards are simultaneously visible beyond the margins of preceding cards, each card having thereon a space for a family name and contiguous thereto av succession of spaces for given name initials, the spaces of each card registering with those of other cards to form a succession of columns in which the initials Vof names upon dierent cards are simultaneously visible, with like initials in the same columns and different initials in different columns spaced from the family name columns different distances proportionate to the alphabetical sequence of such initials.

9. In a le system of the character described, a series of overlapping file cards having the margins of succeeding cards simultaneously .exposed to view beyond the margins of preceding cards, the exposed margins of succeeding cards having thereon registering spaces appropriated to the entry of family names and contiguous thereto, a succession of spaces appropriate to the alphabetical succession of givenname initials, the spaces on each vcard registering with those of succeeding cards to form a succession of columns in which are simultaneously visible the plurality of family names in one column and the plurality of given name initials pertaining to such group of family names arranged in different columns according to the alphabetical sequence of such given name initials with like initials in the same column and different initials in different columns spaced from the familyname column iny accordance with the relative position of such initials in the alphabet.

10. -Ini a file system of the character described, a series of overlapping iilecards having the margins of succeeding cards simultaneously exposed to view beyond 4the margins of preceding cards, the exposed margins having thereon registering spaces forming a succession of columns in which are simultaneously visible indi-ces pertaining to the individual cards, one of said columns being appropriated to basic index designations, and the remaining columns being appropriated to aV progressive serie-s of indices spaced different distances fromV the basic indices in accordance with the relative positions of such indices in such-succession wherebylike indices will appearvin the same column and different indices in different columns, Y y

1l. In ale system of thepcharacter' described, a series of overlappingfile cards having the margins of succeeding cards simultaneously exposed'to view beyondY the margins of preceding cards, the exposed margins having therein a space appropriate to a vbasic index designation and in spaced relation therewith, a space appropriate to an individual index designation of a predetermined series, the registering spaces of different cards forming columns in which are simultaneously visible like individual index designations in the same column and different individual designations in diiierent columns spaced different distances from the column of basic designations proportionate to the relative position of the individual designation in a given series.

l2. In a le drawer, a plurality of rectangular carriers supported on one edge therein and adapted for movement relative to each other, a plurality of upwardly extending cards mounted on each carrier and arranged in overlapping otl'set relation thereon with one margin of each in visible relation, and means adjacent the top and bottom margins of each carrier spacing each carrier from adjacent carriers, whereby said cards are loosely retained in a predetermined space ,between adjacent carriers.

13. In a le drawer, a series of carriers supported therein and adapted for movement relative to each other, a rearwardly projecting crimp portion formed in each carrier and extending thereacross in spaced relation with its top margin, a plurality of upwardly extending record sheets mounted on each carrier in overlapping offset relation with one Inargin of each in visible relation, the crimp portion of each carrier impinging upon the record sheets supported upon the succeeding carrier to space said carriers, whereby the margins of the uppermost record sheets in the respective carriers are visible from above said le drawer.

14. In a iile drawer, a plurality of rectangular carriers supported on one edge therein and adapted for movement relative to each other, a support member removably mounted on each carrier and provided with a series of spaced slots, a plurality of upwardly extending cards on each support member, said cards each having portions engaging in a slot thereof, one above the other to form an over'- lapping group of cards having one margin of each card in visible relation, said cards being normally covered by adjacent carriers whereby movement between two adjacent carriers spaces the same to permit access to the group of cards on the carrier thus exposed.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 4th day of October, A. D. 1928.

RODNEY JOHN WOOD. 

